‘Men’ tops MTV Movie Awards

“A Few Good Men” won best movie, while Denzel Washington and Sharon Stone captured top acting honors at the 1993 MTV Movie Awards, taped Saturday at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

The event, to be broadcast Wednesday on MTV, is a light-hearted ceremony offering winners a gold popcorn-box trophy in such categories as “most desirable male/female” and “best kiss.” Winners were determined by votes to a 900 telephone number (proceeds donated to the Magic Johnson Foundation) and through Entertainment Weekly. Nominees were determined through a random sample survey of the MTV audience.

Typifying the antic nature of the event, lifetime achievement honors went to the Three Stooges. Mel Gibson capped his presentation ceremony by bonking himself on the head with an oversized wrench.

A significant number of industry heavyweights were in attendance and/or working the show, including Arnold Schwarzenegger (who presented the best movie award), Whitney Houston, Wesley Snipes, Marisa Tomei, Christian Slater, Kelly Lynch and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Despite the light and lively atmosphere, best female performance winner Stone was moved to tears in accepting her honor, thanking her acting coach for his contributions to her success.

Washington presented the year’s best new filmmaker award to Carl Franklin, director of “One False Move.” The award is voted on by a panel of over 100 established directors. To be eligible, the candidate had to make his or her directorial debut of a feature film between March 1, 1992 and March 1, 1993. A scholarship will be donated in Franklin’s name to the film school of his choice.